Sunset on the Rampart Wall

Tired feet dragged us on the ramparts. The sea breeze helped to blow off the tiredness in body and soul. Down below, the ocean was throwing wave after wave, relentlessly but unsuccessfully, at the rampart wall. In the distance, the sun appeared as a large orange disk over the horizon. The ocean was preparing to accept the sun under its protection for the duration of the night.

 

The ocean was throwing wave after wave, relentlessly but unsuccessfully, at the rampart wall. (Pic by Sakuna Gamage)

An individual is insignificant in this backdrop. People had gathered on the rampart wall and the street below, which ran roughly parallel to the ramparts. Many people, both locals and foreigners, had gathered to watch the spectacle. These must have included a number of British and perhaps even Portuguese and Dutch. Throughout the centuries that have passed, their ancestors, and our ancestors, must have marveled at the same spectacle. Street life has changed over these years, but the spectacle of the sunset has never changed. Actually, with the increasingly restless lifestyle, natural spectacles like the sunset must be even more magical to us than to our ancestors.

 

Lovers walked slowly, embraced in the comfort of the mutual attraction (Pic by Sakuna Gamage)

People gathered on the rampart wall to enjoy the sunset. Parents had come with their children. Lovers walked slowly, embraced in the comfort of the mutual attraction, which was accentuated by the cooling breeze and the darkening skies. The robes of several Buddhist monks who had arrived blended nicely with the orange hue of the falling sun. A cruise ship, which had anchored in the out harbor, was switching on its lights, in anticipation of the impending sunset. So were the street lamps and the headlights of the vehicles down below in the street.

Our feet, commanded by the minds, refused to move on. The scenery and the colors were so tempting. We sat down, away from the path, on the dry grass on top of the rampart wall. People walked, birds flew, the crew ship waited, lovers embraced, children ran and we all watched. All the while, the sun went down and the lights came up.

 

The ocean was preparing to accept the sun under its protection for the duration of the night (Pic by Sakuna Gamage)

The sun, the all powerful energy giver, had not really gone hiding. All other light sources, which are insignificant flickers compared to the red giant, exist thanks to it. At night, people forget that all light originates from the sun, whether at night or day.

Please read the sequel Stargazing on the Rampart Wall